Wire rope



H. W. RIDDLE Sept. 11, 1951 WIRE ROPE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1949 lhventar: I Ham [y /l. 19/001 .5, AW zm Sept. 11, 1951 w, mDLE WIRE ROPE Filed June 30, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 hwentor: Haw-2y ll. E/DDLE,

Patented Sept. 11, 1951 WIRE ROPE Harvey W. Riddle, Branford, Conn., assignor to The American Steel and Wire Company of New Jersey, a corporation of New Jersey Application June 30, 1949, Serial No. 102,413 a 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a wire rope and more particularly to a wire rope having an independent wire rope core. The primary function of the wire core is to provide solid and unyielding support for the main rope strands so as to minimize the pressure between the outer wires of the main rope strands and the outer wires of the core at the point where they contact one another. In the past it has been the practice to correlate the direction, type, and length of lay of the main strands of the wire rope and the several strands of the independent wire rope core in a way to cause any single outer wire of the main strands and any single outer wire of the independent wire rope core to lie in paths which are approximately parallel at the point of contact between the strands. Other than this, it is merely a matter of chance as to how these wires contact each other at any given point on the rope. Because of ease of manufacture, the construction of the rope is such that the outer wires of the independent wire rope core and the outer wires of the main strands are of different diameter. Due to this difference in diameter it is impossible for the wires of the main strands to contact the outer wires of the independent wire rope core in a uniform manner. In many instances there will be only line contact and in some instances no contact between the outer wires of the main rope strands and the corresponding outer wires of the independent wire rope core. Therefore, the wear that occurs between these wires due to the flexing of the wire rope is unevenly distributed among the wires, thus decreasing the life of the wire rope. The result is much the same as would occur if it were attempted to mesh gears having different sized teeth.

It is an object of my invention toprovide a wire rope having an independent wire rope core in which the support provided by the independent wire rope core is provided in equal amounts by each individual outer wire of the core, and in which the support provided by the independent wire rope core is distributed in equal amounts to each individual outer wire of the main strands.

Another object is to provide such a wire rope in which all outer wires of the main rope strands are supported at thesame level or at the same distance from the exact center of the rope.

Still another object is to provide such a wire rope in which the diameter of the outer wires of the core and the diameter of the outer wires of the main strands are substantially equal.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse view of the wire rop of my invention with part of the wires being shown in section;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the position of the wires in a different phase;

Figure 3 is a .view similar to Figure 1, but showing the position of the wires just prior to the time they enter the phase of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal view of the independent wire rope core; and

Figure 5 is a. sectional view taken on the line VV of Figure 4 and showing the outer wires of the main rope strands contacting the outer wires of the independent wire rope core.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates the independent wire rope core of a wire ropewhich is provided with a plurality of main strands l spiralled around the core 2. As shown, the independent wire rope core has a 7 x 5 construction which is particularly adapted for use in a wire rope of 6 x 41 construction. It is also possible to use an independent wire rope core having a 7 x 6 construction with a wire rope of 6 x 46 construction. The direction, type and the length of lay of the main strands 4 of the wire rope and the several strands of the independent wire rope core are correlated in a way to cause any single outer wire of the independent wire rope core to lie in paths which are approximately parallel to each other at the point of contact between them. This can be accomplished in many difierent ways which are well known to those skilled in the art. It is essential that the outer wires A, A, A A etc. of the main strands be of substantially the same diameter as the outer wires C, C C, and C of the independent wire rope'core. Under these conditions I have found that the outer wires of each strand and the outer wires of the core contact each other so that one wire in oneof the contacting members will always rest in a saddle formed by two adjacent members of the other contacting member.

In Figure 1 the outer wire A of the main strands 4 is shown resting in a saddle formed by the outer wires C and C of the independent wire rope core.

In Figure 2 the outer wire C of the independent wire rope core is shown saddled between the outer wires A and A of the main strands. While the positions of the wires are all shown in the same phase in Figures 1 and 2, no attempt is made to have all the wires in the same phase. Instead, part of the wires could be in the phase shown in Figure 1 and the others in the phase shown in Figure 2.

Figures 4 and 5 show that the support provided by the independent wire rope core is provided in equal amounts by each independent outer wire of the core and that the support is distributed in equal fashion to each outer wire of the main strands.

In passing from one phase to another the strands turn together like the teeth on a gear. Figure 3 shows the wires about to enter the phase shown in Figure 1. The change from one phase to another is very frequent and occurs many times per lay. For example, in a two inch'diameter rope of the design shown there is a distance of only approximately .15 inch between phases.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A wire rope comprising an independent wire rope core and a plurality of strands laid around said core, said strands being formed of a plurality of wires, the outer wires of each strand and the outer wires of the core all being of substantially the same diameter, any single outer" wire of the strands and any single outer wire of the core being in paths which are approximately parallel at the point of contact between them. the outer wires of each strand and the outer wires of the core contacting each other in such a manner that one wire in one of the contacting members will always rest in a saddle formed by two adjacent wires of the other contacting member.

2. A wire rope according to claim 1 which the independent wire rope core has a '7 x 5 construction and the wire rope has a 6 x 41 construction.

HARVEY W. RIDDLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,009,030 Frederick Nov. 14, 1911 2,261,070 Millard Oct. 28, 1941 

